Rhode Island Criminal Defense Lawyer
PAROLE HEARINGS
Parole in General:
Parole is the supervised release of a prisoner before the completion of that inmate's sentence at the ACI. Inmates are still considered to be serving their sentences, and may be returned to prison if they violate the conditions of their parole. Under Rhode Island law, most inmates are eligible for a parole hearing after serving one third of a court ordered prison sentence. To receive parole in Rhode Island, one must appear in front of the parole board. The Parole Board will review the file materials, meet with the victims and meet with the inmate. The Board then votes whether to parole or deny parole to the inmate.
Can You have an Attorney at the Parol Hearing?
Inmates are allowed to have their Attorney present at their parole hearings. A skilled parole hearing Attorney will help an inmate long before the parole hearing is planned. As a parole hearing Attorney, I know the importance of meeting with my clients and explaining to them what they need to do to increase their chances of parole. It is vitally important to put together a parole plan before going up for parole. This plan often consists of an appropriate home and job plan, a personal letter written by the inmate, letters of support from family members and friends, certificates from any completed programs, and any plans for treatment in the community. Medical records when necessary may also influence the Parole Board’s decision. A skilled defense Attorney will often help a defendant at his parole hearing, but much of what the defendant does while serving his sentence will be determinative of the granting of parole. If a defendant takes advantage of the programs that his defense attorney recommends, the chance of parole will be increased. There are many programs at the ACI that will help a inmate improve himself, which in turn increases the chance of parole. The parole board will often look favorably on inmates that have completed the following programs:
- health services programs;
- education programs, ie GED, College Classes;
- substance abuse counseling (Spectrum Program);
- domestic violence counseling;
- parenting classes;
- anger managment couseling; and
- sex offender treatment.
Of couse not all people need all of these courses but the more courses an inmate completes, especially if it related to their crime, the greater chance of parole.
What is the Parole Board looking for when determining if someone will get parole?
When the Parole Board decides if someone is to get parole there are many factors they take into consideration. The Board looks for people that if released can become a productive member of society.
Some of the many factors that the Parole Board considers are the following:
- Has the inmate taken responsibility for the crime?
- Is the inmate remorseful about their criminal behavior?
- Has the inmate taken steps to change his or her attitudes and behavior?
- What plans the inmate has for the future;
- The offenders age;
- Has the offender completed education classes at the ACI?
- Has the offender completed susbstance abuse classes at the ACI?
- What other classes has the offender completed while in custody?
- What is the inmate's disciplinary record while at the ACI?
- The seriousness of the offence;
- Prior parole and probation revocations;
- How the inmate may have done on home confinement and/or work release.
These factors along with others will determine if the parole board will grant an inmate parole.